Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has urged the government to initiate, what he called, backdoor talks with embittered leadership of Balochistan and announce general amnesty for everyone to bring them back to the mainstream.
Initiating debate on "Aghaz-e-Haqooq Balochistan " in the special joint sitting of the Parliament here on Monday, the Opposition leader said: "You cannot conquer your own people with guns and military operations." Nisar underlined the urgent need of embarking back door talks with the disgruntled leadership of Balochistan by involving opposition parties. A delegation should be constituted that could initiate talks with Baloch leaders, he said. "Besides the dialogue, implementation of the package should continue," he advised.
He went on saying that this seems to be the only option to win the hearts and minds of Baloch people who might have the feeling of being pushed to the point of no return. Nisar Ali Khan said that the release of 10 to 15 missing people was not the solution to the problem and the voice of Baloch people should be made part of the policy framed for addressing their grievances.
He said that PML-N would support the package only if it was acceptable to the political parties, Provincial Assembly and the people of Balochistan. He wanted that the suggestions forwarded by the elected representatives of both the House should be incorporated in the package.
"We should listen to the leaders of Balochistan and in the light of their recommendations solution to their problems be sought. We are responsible for their sufferings and feeling of alienation, which made them so disgusted that they are no longer willing to be part of Pakistan," he added.
He suggested that as part of the confidence building measures the government should lodge a case under Section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code against the former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) for killing Nawab Akhbar Khan Bugti and other Baloch leaders. Also, he said, military operation in the province should be stopped and role of the agencies be kept within the limits.
"These measures will definitely improve the credibility graph of the government and its sincerity in the eyes of Baloch people," he opined. Chaudhry Nisar suggested the government to make the three-day debate meaningful and proposed convening a meeting of all the heads of the parliamentary parties to decide which proposal should be incorporated in the package to make it acceptable to the people of Balochistan.
Nisar deplored that the Parliament, which came into existence through free and fair elections, has yet to exert itself forcefully and wished that it should have taken some bold decisions on Balochistan. Though, he appreciated the government for sending a very positive message to Baloch people, he was not very hopeful that the promises made by the government in the package would be materialised.
He said that he was extremely surprised that the elected government did not have any clue as to who was picking up the missing persons and presence of Blackwater in the country. Everyone except the government is aware of Blackwater activities operating under the name of Xee. The notorious outfit had been involved in torture, extortion and extra judicial killing of Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan, he added.